Before Liverpool’s most recent match against West Ham United, Michail Antonio was talking trash. As Jurgen Klopp’s team maintained their strong start to the season at Anfield, it was the game’s other number nine who, as is increasingly becoming the case, had the final say.
With a bold prediction about how the Premier League season might play out, Antonio had caused a minor commotion during the previous week. He predicted West Ham would likely finish ahead of Liverpool this season: “You know what, I think we are going to finish higher than Liverpool.”. “I’m saying it out loud.
This weekend, we have them, and it’s a six-pointer. We’ve got them!”. Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez dominate West Ham, according to Liverpool player ratings. LIVE UPDATES: West Ham United vs. Liverpool. Antonio’s criticisms of the visitors, who were physical, well-organized, and showed flashes of brilliance, not least from Lucas Paqueta, were not without merit given how the Reds were forced to fight for every inch during a match that was affected by the wind.
The visitors were also still riding high from their thrilling Europa Conference League victory from the previous season. However, they were ultimately defeated by a Liverpool team that is starting to exhibit many of the characteristics that have made them the only persistent rivals to Manchester City’s domestic dominance over the previous six years.
The performance of Darwin Nunez was crucial in this instance, just like it was in their Europa League group opener victory on Thursday at LASK. The Uruguayan’s ability to hold up the ball offered a welcome outlet, and his connection to Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz was best highlighted in the 16th minute when, while reaching for a pass from Diaz, he accidentally flicked the ball into Salah’s path, who won and scored the opening penalty. Following Jarrod Bowen’s equalizer, Nunez missed a wonderful opportunity to put the Reds back in front.
That might have had an impact on the forward not too long ago. But now, he put it behind him and, just seven minutes later, he produced an improvised volley to meet an Alexis Mac Allister throughball and give Liverpool the lead once again. Nunez already has four goals and two assists on the season in just seven games. When Antonio, unmarked, met a cross from Tomas Soucek from a distance of 10 yards, he headed it about the same distance wide of the goal, much to the delight of the home crowd.
This was Antonio’s best opportunity to score. Nunez and Antonio were both replaced at halftime, the latter to a standing ovation from the home crowd that carried over into the post-game celebrations. The former received some jeers from the Kop. No, it wasn’t a six-pointer like Antonio had suggested. Nunez, however, is currently resolutely disproving one to his steadily diminishing number of skeptics.
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